Secret Milestone

“Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved. The real milestones are less prepossessing. They come to the door of memory unannounced, stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit and simply never leave. Our lives are measured by these.” ― Susan B. Anthony

It is true, sometimes a sacred milestone sneaks up on you. It comes unadvertised, unexpected and subtle. It comes just how it happened in the first place, perfectly.

I, like many other smartphone users, am connected to the digital sphere in a myriad of ways. Though many of my notifications I purposely turn off out of annoyance or irrelevance, I do keep my wordpress accounts set so that I can see them, respond to questions, comments and emails. Just two days ago I saw the above notification and it made me smile at first, then my thoughts went a bit wild.

It’s hard to believe that four years have passed since I first began this little blog. Really, it’s hard to believe that four years have passed at all. So much has happened in my life since that February day, four years ago, that the very concept of time passing has seemed much like a blur full of words, travel, art, writing and various comings and goings of daily life. The past four years have undoubtedly moved at an accelerated pace, one much faster than I’m used to.

But, what is a true anniversary? What is a true milestone? These are different for many people.

Some people care about birthdays, others could care less. Like me, my birthday is just another day, only that particular day reminds me that I’m older. Other people have special anniversaries, secret milestones that they keep close to the heart. This anniversary for me is a special one, because it falls in tandem with the day that my eyes opened much wider, and it was only through opening the heart did this become possible for me.

Four years ago I found myself in upstate New York, in a small village just a stone’s throw from the St. Lawrence river and the Canadian border. It was only through the synchronicity of life that this happened, for the chain of events to occur so perfectly to bring me to that particular place at that particular time. It was a time when I needed isolation, sanctuary and peace of mind. I found this peace of mind during a cold New York winter, in a small house that sat on the bank of a frozen river.

Just a few weeks after finding myself in a frozen and foreign place, in late January of 2012, my grandfather died. My mentor and father figure, the wisest and kindest man I ever knew was no longer a part of my life and I had barely begun to unpack my boxes. Traveling back to New York from the gulf coast after his funeral I promised his spirit in silence that I would start writing.

And so it began.

In the most true and innocent way, this blog began as a way to heal my heart from loss. It soon transformed into a way for me to release thoughts from the basement, to refresh the senses and refine my craft of writing. Really, it continued to grow because I literally had nothing to do and nowhere to go.

It is true. Our truest and most profound anniversaries, our most sacred of milestones are the ones that we only know. They live in the secret spaces of our hearts and minds. They make us smile when we remember them, when we catch a glimpse of the calendar and see that day where it all began, where we began, where our lives dramatically changed.

For me, this blog will always have a special place in my life as well will all of the special people that I’ve met and chatted with over the past four years. I’ve made a few wonderful friends, landed a few clients and have met some of the most brilliant and caring people from all walks of life. I’m truly humbled and grateful for this experience.

I’d like to say thank you to all those who still follow my work, for all those who have helped with comments and emails and for all those who inspire me on a daily basis. Were it not for this blog, and all of the connections I’ve made though it, I doubt I’d be so inspired to continue writing and creating art.

This blog started a fire within my heart and spun a hurricane into my hands. It lit the passion that drives me forward. For this, my gratitude cannot be expressed in words alone.

7 thoughts on “Secret Milestone”

And the beat goes on, as our yesterdays turn into today to be followed by tomorrow.
Our lives experience change and growth with equal aplomb as the years trail behind us. Tomorrow will bring us joy and wonder throughout our lives. Savor every day until it becomes yesterday. Be happy!

Happy Anniversary!!! This is a special occasion for me as well as I truly appreciate your writing. You are a very gifted young man and I, for one, am most grateful that you have the generosity to share your gifts. Thank you and keep writing!!!